Richard Keys thinks that Alexis Sanchez will leave Arsenal for Manchester City before the end of the summer transfer window.

The rumours are growing that Alexis may yet still leave the Gunners, despite assurances by Arsène Wenger all summer that he will be staying. Now Richard Keys has given his own two cents on the issue.

Keys wrote in his blog: “The truth is Sanchez left Arsenal three months ago. He’s a distraction in the dressing room in exactly the same way as the uncertainty surrounding Wenger was last season. Get rid of Sanchez.

“Take Aguero in exchange if you can – if not, take City’s money. I still believe they will, but this should’ve been done so much earlier in the summer.”

Arsenal are said to be interested in letting Alexis go only if a player is coming in the other direction, according to Sky reporter Kaveh Solhekol. There certainly appears to be more in the rumours that Arsenal’s 30-goal forward could leave the club than in previous weeks, but only if he can be adequately replaced.

As for the suggestion that Alexis has become a distraction in the dressing room, it’s hard to say for sure, but the Gunners certainly don’t look focused on the pitch.

The fans have been distracted by Özil and Alexis’ situations all summer and fan unrest tends to feed into the minds of the players, whether it be through posts on social media or the atmosphere at matches.

However, it may be the case that once the window is closed and there’s no longer any possibility of a departure, that distraction goes away. Arsenal now have to make that call.